High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot Data
The capabilities of hovering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in low-altitude sensing of atmospheric turbulence with high spatial resolution are studied experimentally. The vertical profile of atmospheric turbulence was measured at the Basic Experimental Observatory (Tomsk, Russian Federation) with t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Drones |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/7/412 |
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| author | Alexander Shelekhov Alexey Afanasiev Evgeniya Shelekhova Alexey Kobzev Alexey Tel’minov Alexander Molchunov Olga Poplevina |
| author_facet | Alexander Shelekhov Alexey Afanasiev Evgeniya Shelekhova Alexey Kobzev Alexey Tel’minov Alexander Molchunov Olga Poplevina |
| author_sort | Alexander Shelekhov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The capabilities of hovering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in low-altitude sensing of atmospheric turbulence with high spatial resolution are studied experimentally. The vertical profile of atmospheric turbulence was measured at the Basic Experimental Observatory (Tomsk, Russian Federation) with three quadcopters hovering at altitudes of 4, 10, and 27 m in close proximity (~5 m) to anemometers installed on weather towers. The behavior of the longitudinal and lateral wind velocity components in the 0–10 Hz frequency band is analyzed. In addition, the obtained wind velocity components were smoothed over 1 min by the moving average method to describe long turbulent wind gusts. The discrepancy between the UAV and anemometer data is examined. It is found that after smoothing, the discrepancy does not exceed 0.5 m/s in 95% of cases. This accuracy is generally sufficient for measurements of the horizontal wind in the atmosphere. The spectral and correlation analysis of the UAV and anemometer measurements is carried out. The profiles of the longitudinal and lateral scales of turbulence determined from turbulence spectra and autocorrelation functions are studied based on the UAV and anemometer data. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:09:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b48c9675a2944b6cb52e4de1e5fb8d38 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-446X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:09:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Drones |
| spelling | doaj.art-b48c9675a2944b6cb52e4de1e5fb8d382023-11-18T19:00:41ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2023-06-017741210.3390/drones7070412High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot DataAlexander Shelekhov0Alexey Afanasiev1Evgeniya Shelekhova2Alexey Kobzev3Alexey Tel’minov4Alexander Molchunov5Olga Poplevina6Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS, 10/3, Academichesky Ave, 634055 Tomsk, RussiaV.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics SB RAS, 1, Academician Zuev Square, 634055 Tomsk, RussiaInstitute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS, 10/3, Academichesky Ave, 634055 Tomsk, RussiaInstitute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS, 10/3, Academichesky Ave, 634055 Tomsk, RussiaInstitute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS, 10/3, Academichesky Ave, 634055 Tomsk, RussiaInstitute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS, 10/3, Academichesky Ave, 634055 Tomsk, RussiaInstitute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS, 10/3, Academichesky Ave, 634055 Tomsk, RussiaThe capabilities of hovering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in low-altitude sensing of atmospheric turbulence with high spatial resolution are studied experimentally. The vertical profile of atmospheric turbulence was measured at the Basic Experimental Observatory (Tomsk, Russian Federation) with three quadcopters hovering at altitudes of 4, 10, and 27 m in close proximity (~5 m) to anemometers installed on weather towers. The behavior of the longitudinal and lateral wind velocity components in the 0–10 Hz frequency band is analyzed. In addition, the obtained wind velocity components were smoothed over 1 min by the moving average method to describe long turbulent wind gusts. The discrepancy between the UAV and anemometer data is examined. It is found that after smoothing, the discrepancy does not exceed 0.5 m/s in 95% of cases. This accuracy is generally sufficient for measurements of the horizontal wind in the atmosphere. The spectral and correlation analysis of the UAV and anemometer measurements is carried out. The profiles of the longitudinal and lateral scales of turbulence determined from turbulence spectra and autocorrelation functions are studied based on the UAV and anemometer data.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/7/412profileturbulencewind velocityquadcoptersanemometerspectra |
| spellingShingle | Alexander Shelekhov Alexey Afanasiev Evgeniya Shelekhova Alexey Kobzev Alexey Tel’minov Alexander Molchunov Olga Poplevina High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot Data Drones profile turbulence wind velocity quadcopters anemometer spectra |
| title | High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot Data |
| title_full | High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot Data |
| title_fullStr | High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot Data |
| title_short | High-Resolution Profiling of Atmospheric Turbulence Using UAV Autopilot Data |
| title_sort | high resolution profiling of atmospheric turbulence using uav autopilot data |
| topic | profile turbulence wind velocity quadcopters anemometer spectra |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/7/412 |
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